Samsung Electronics launches long-delayed Tizen smartphone in India

SEOUL/NEW DEHLI (Reuters) - South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co Ltd on Wednesday launched the first smartphone powered by its Tizen operating system, a major development in the tech giant's ambition to build a software ecosystem to rival Android.

The Z1 went on sale in India for 5,700 rupees (61 pounds) each, targeting users looking for their first smartphone, the world's No.1 smartphone maker said in a statement. The no-nonsense handset - one of the cheapest in the Samsung stable - sports a 4-inch display, a plastic body and a simplified user interface.

The launch is a key step in the company's strategy to break free from Google's Android platform, which powers Samsung's flagship Galaxy devices and most other smartphones on the market.